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Mercator, a gateway to Europe and beyond

Mercator, a gateway to Europe and beyond International Conference on “National, Ethnic and Language Minorities in the European Union”. Cor van der Meer Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning. Overview. Fryslân Frisian Language

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Mercator, a gateway to Europe and beyond

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  1. Mercator, a gateway to Europe and beyond International Conference on “National, Ethnic and Language Minorities in the European Union” Cor van der Meer Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning Lublin, September 2011

  2. Overview • Fryslân • Frisian Language • Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning

  3. Visit Chinese delegation, November 2010

  4. Fryslân in history Early Middle ages Today Late Middle ages

  5. Well-known outside Fryslân

  6. Frisian as First Language

  7. Frisian Language Command • 54 % Mother tongue • 94 % Understanding • 74 % Speaking • 65 % Reading • 26 % Writing

  8. The Frisian case (1) • The Netherlands ratified the European Charter in 1998. 48 provisionsunder part III signedforFrisianonly. • The Framework Convention went into force in 2005. Frisian is the onlynationalminoritylanguage.

  9. The Frisian case (2) Education: • At primary school level Frisian is anobligatory subject. • Substantial part in primaryeducationandintegral part of secondaryeducation.

  10. The Frisian case (3) However • Actual time spent on Frisian is 30-45 minutes a week; • 61% of the teachers are notqualifiedtoteach the language; • The attainment goals are notmeasuredby the Dutch Inspectorate of Education.

  11. Visit SPLIKA, december 2010

  12. Trilingual education in Fryslân (1) • Model used: • - Group 1-6: 50 % Frisian, 50 % Dutch • - Group 7-8: 40 % Frisian, 40 % Dutch, 20% English • Systematic use of Frisian, Dutch and English as a medium of instruction. • Interactive language education

  13. Trilingual education in Fryslân (2) • Results: • - Good quality of Frisian • - Results of Dutch at the same level at the end of grade 8 as all other pupils in the Netherlands • - Results for English slightly better, but not significantly

  14. Mercator Research Centre • 1987-2006: • Documentation and Information Centre. • Funded by the European Union. • 2007 onwards, transition into: • Information and Research Centre. • Funded by the Province of Fryslân and the municipality of Ljouwert/Leeuwarden.

  15. Mercator’s activities • Research • Publications & databases • Network of Schools • Newsletters • Conferences & seminars • Advisory role

  16. Research Matrix

  17. Fields of research • Added value of multilingualism and multilingual education. • New technologies; distant language (and culture) learning. • Application of the CEFR and the ELP in Europe. • Informal learning and promotion of reading in families & households.

  18. Research Reports • Development of Minimum Standards for RML education • Use of the CEFR and ELP in RML education • Comparative studies • Study on the devolvement of legislative power to regional authorities • Trilingual Education in Europe

  19. Publications • Articles • Newsletters • Regional dossiers series • - 40 language descriptions • - Update every 5-8 years • - Online available

  20. Structured contents • 1 Introduction • 2 Pre-school education • 3 Primary education • 4 Secondary education • 5 Vocational education • 6 Higher education • 7 Adult education • 8 Educational research • 9 Prospects • 10 Summary of statistics • Education System in …. • References and further reading • Useful addresses

  21. www.networkofschools.eu

  22. Network of Schools • > 90 members • > 30 language communities • 15 EU member states • News bulletins • Website: • - teaching materials • - projects www.networkofschools.org

  23. 2011 April: International conference “Languages of the Wider World” 2011 May: Expert seminar “Cultural Education and Civil Society: how can languages contribute?” 2011 Sept 30 / October 1: Mercator Network seminar on “Languages and Legislation” in Barcelona Soon: International Expert Seminar on “Early Language Learning” 2012: June 20 – 23; International Conference on Language and Social Psychology Conferences 2011 / 2012

  24. Projects • Mercator Network of Language Diversity Centres • MELT: Multilingual Early Language Transmission • EUNoM: The European Universities’ Network on Multilingualism • More Languages, More Opportunities • Added Value of Multilingualism

  25. Mercator Research Centre - “lead partner” 4 Partner institutes: • Aberystwyth – University of Wales • Barcelona – Ciemen • Budapest – Hungarian Academy of Sciences • Eskilstuna (Sweden) – Mälardalen University

  26. Partnerships / co-operation • Network for the Promotion of Linguistic Diversity in Cardiff • European University Network on Multilingualism in Barcelona • European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz • Civil Society Platform on Multilingualism • Regional authorities

  27. Visit SPLIKA, december 2010

  28. www.mercator-research.eu mercator@fryske-akademy.nl Thank you Mersi dit Tak Danke Haristo Dzãczi Köszönöm Tige tank Hvala Teşekkür ederim Ful toank

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